Questions to Ask When Roach Bait Doesn't Work

Roach bait is supposed to be an effective total control roach killer. The key phrase in that sentence? Supposed to. Sometimes, they don’t work, and roaches continue to linger around, surviving and thriving to the homeowner's frustration. Scan the internet for reviews on different roach baits, and you may see many exasperated people up in arms complaining about how the roach bait stinks and doesn’t damage the infestation they have.

Some blame the bait for being inferior and a waste of money, but in actuality, it may not be the fault of the bait. Often a roach bait is rendered ineffective is because of poor application procedure. Other times, it may be the roaches’ fault. You can discover the problem by asking yourself a few questions. In this article, we will touch on some questions so you can get to a solution to your roach issue.

Are you eliminating the roaches' other food sources?

A big important step before applying any bait is to eliminate all sources of food that roaches may feast on. If you still have crumbs on the counter and in your toaster, spills in the microwave, grease on the stove, and moisture behind the refrigerator, the roaches won’t be compelled to try the bait you have laid out because there are so many other options for food.

Our experts at Solutions emphasize sanitation as a prerequisite before using any products, including bait. Once you clean, sweep, and wipe up your kitchen, the roaches will not have anything to eat. That’s when you lay the bait out, and it’ll be the most effective because they don’t have anything else to munch on but what’s presented to them.

How long have you been using this bait?

Check the expiration date of your bait. If the bait you have been using has been around for a while, its effect will diminish as time passes. Roaches can quickly evolve and adapt, and so they require new, fresh batches of product. If you’re using the old product, they may avoid it entirely or even consume it—and it won’t kill them! Make sure you always have the latest and greatest products, such as Apex Cockroach Gel Bait.

Where have you been applying the bait?

Cockroach bait contains attractants to lure roaches, but it’s kind of pointless if it’s applied in the wrong area. While roaches have a powerful sense of smell and may approach where you have put the bait, you need to place the bait in a high-traffic area. The truth is there’s no good reason why a roach would go out of their way when there’s food readily available nearby.

Also, if you’re disappointed that you don’t see a bunch of dead roaches lying around after laying bait, that doesn’t mean the bait hasn’t been working. Roaches live in tight spaces that you may not be able to get to, and they may be dropping dead in their hiding spots.

Are you using an Insect Growth Regulator?

Often, using bait alone may not be enough. The bait may kill off adult roaches, but what about the eggs they constantly leave behind? If these aren’t taken care of, even if the adults have been eliminated, you’ll have the next generation to deal with once the eggs hatch. Use an insect growth regulator like Gentrol Point Source for your baits and insecticides. This product acts as a birth control and will stop eggs from hatching.

Are you using both bait and pesticide sprays?

Roach baits can kill quickly, but they aren’t instant on-contact killers like roach sprays. The whole point of using roach bait is not to kill a roach or two but the entire population via a domino effect. For that to work, roach baits need to have a delayed kill, so when roaches take the bait, they return with the bait to their population and share the poison.

Using spray chemicals simultaneously as bait will ruin the domino effect because the chemicals inside the roach spray will scare off the roaches and cause roach aversion from the bait. The bait is useless if roaches don’t want to go near it. So go with bait first and give it time to work its magic before adding other products to your roach control program. We typically recommend baiting for at least 10 days before using an insecticide chemical to aid in controlling the infestation. If you’re ready for insecticide, we recommend using Supreme IT Insecticide.

Once you have asked yourself these questions, you can figure out where things went wrong in your bait application procedure and tackle those roaches stronger and wiser.

Key Takeaways

• Baiting is one of the most effective ways of addressing an indoor roach infestation, but it can be frustrating when the bait doesn't seem to be working.
• Often, the issue with cockroaches not taking or accepting bait is poor application techniques, such as placing bait in the wrong place, poor sanitation, or using old bait that doesn't have an effective formula.
• We highly recommend using Apex Cockroach Bait and combining baiting with an Insect Growth Regulator like Gentrol Point Source and a solid insecticide like Supreme IT.